Early release for radical preacher

A radical preacher who was jailed for inciting terrorism has been freed early from prison.

Abu Izzadeen had his sentence reduced by a year by the Court of Appeal and walked free because of the amount of time he had already served.

The 34-year-old gained notoriety when he heckled former home secretary John Reid at a public meeting.

Four other extremists jailed at the same time also had their sentences cut at a hearing last week.

Douglas Murray, director of the Centre for Social Cohesion, said the men were a danger to society.

He said: "Abu Izzadeen and his organisation publicly call for attacks against those whom they see as enemies of Islam.

"Their ideology not only glorifies violent jihad but teaches their followers that taking part in suicide bombings is their duty as Muslims. The early release of a hate preacher like Abu Izzadeen demonstrates that the British courts are still far away from understanding the very clear and present danger that this country is facing from militant Islamists.

"This is further proof that the UK authorities are utterly failing in their battle against Islamic extremism. The court has sent out the message that you can incite violence against British and American forces in Iraq and raise funds to kill them, and that your punishment will be nothing more than the most risible sentence."

Izzadeen and Simon Keeler, a British-born Muslim convert, were jailed for four-and-a-half years in April last year for making rabble-rousing speeches in a central London mosque.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice said: "All offenders subject to probation supervision on release from prison have to adhere to a set of strict conditions. They are subject to recall to custody if they breach their conditions or their behaviour indicates that it is no longer safe to allow them to remain in the community."